* 


A  TALE  OF  THE 
SANTA  RITA 
MOUNTAINS 


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TO  Til  K  KKAI>KK: 

^UE  S  \NTA  K1TA  Mountains  arc  situated  in 
Grant  county.   New  Mexico,  about  twelve 
miles  east  of  Silver  City.    The  chain  com- 
prises several  high  peaks,  they  forming  a  <»> 
/»\                circle  around  a  vale     Upon  tins  vale  art<  small 
lulls,  many  of  them  covered  with   the  mountain 

/(\  oak  and  pine.    When  midsummer  rains  clothe  cu 

the  trees  in  foliage,  and  the  ground   in  verdure.  v»/ 

it  then  becomes  a  scene  of  wondrous  beauty.  ci> 

The  mountain  referred  to  in  the  legend  is  one 

ot  the  chain  above  described,  and  stands  at  the  \i/ 

southern  extremity  ot  the  vale:  its  northern  face  <|> 
and  two   sides  are  nearly  perpendicular,  and 

tower  in  air  some  five  hundred  feet;  its  brow  v|/ 

forms  quite  a  plateau,  in  the  center  of  which  <«/ 

stand  rocks,  in  form  like  the  ruins  of  a  dome  or  \j/ 

watch    tower;    between   these   rocks   and    the  vf/ 

northern  edge  of  the  plateau  stands  ;t  monolith.  a/ 
When  the  mountain  is  viewed  from  a  distance, 

it  assumes  the  appearance  of  a  fortress  or  castle  \|/ 

of  the  Medieval  age.    The  rising  stone  or  mono-  y)/ 

lull  resembles  a  human  form  in  a  kneeling  posi-  \l/ 

tion;  imagination  would  readily  picture  it  as  the  cj/ 

old-time  senechal  "who  had  mounted  the  wall  to  \!/ 

parley  hold."  ^ 

It  is  traditional  thatat  one  time  the  Mexican  vj/ 

government  established  in  this  wle  a  colony  or  \f/ 

Presidio  for  the  purpose  of  working  t.h»  mines  \j/ 

with  peon  labor.    Tliat  it  is  substantially  true  is  y»/ 


4> 

proven  by  the  ruins  of  an  old  fort  still  standing. 
as  well  as  the  deep  shafts  found,  sunk  for  min- 
ing purposes:  moreover,  a  few  years  since,  when 
some  workmen  were  cleaning  out  one  of  the 
shafts,  they  came  upon  a  large  quantity  of  hu- 
man bones,  which  gave  rise  to  the  supposition 
that  the  mine  must  have  caved  at  some  period, 
and  thus  destroyed  a  great  number  of  lives. 

Superstition  has  clothed  the  mountains  and 
monolith  with  the  following  legend: 

"In  the  early  days  of  the  Spanish  conquest  of 

- 


Mexico, upon  this  mountain  there  stood  a  mis- 


Mexico, up 

sion  or  cloi 


sion  or  cloister,  wherein  dwelt  monks  and  nuns: 
and  one  of  the  latter,  a  sister  Rita,  a  nun  pro- 
fessed. who  had  broken  her  vows,  was  turned  to 
the  stone  or  monolith  IKW  standing  on  its  brow." 


. 

As  the  legend  goes  no  farther,  the  author  has 
supplied  the  details  in  his  own  way. 
STIA-KR  CITY.  May,  1881.  F.  C. 

'•'  x'x 

'f>  v«/ 

I 

/)\  W 

View  Santa  Kita's  rocks  of  gray, 
When  setting  sun  has  closed  the  day: 
And  mellow  beams  from  out  the  west 
Bathe  hill  and  plain  and  mountain  crest 
With  golden  light:  then,  in  that  hour 
Let  fancy  paint  a  feudal  tower; 
Wall  and  bastion  as  true  do  stand 
As  if  uprear'd  by  human  hand; 
Turret  on  battlement  is  there, 
And  rising  dome,  proportion'd  fair. 
On  parapet  faced  to  the  north, 
What  seems  a  human  form  stands  forth, 
A  seneschal  to  guard  the  wall. 
And  parley  hold  when  foeman  call: 
When  in  the  distance  it  is  view'd. 
With  living  life  it  seems  imbu'd. 
Tis  but  a  rock,  time-stained  and  worn. 
And  from  the  earth  was  duly  born: 
Upheav'd  in  Nature's  frenzied  throe 
In  ages  past.    How  long?    None  know 
When  center'd  heat  and  rocking  earth 
Unto  volcanic  tires  gave  birth; 
Then,  in  a  mood  of  fiery  sway, 


Was  wrought  the  change.  as  seen  to-day. 
Perchance,  where  Rita's  base  doth  stand 
An  ocean  lav'd  a  shining  strand. 
And  where  the  billows  swept  the  main 
Twas  once  a  fair  and  fertile  plain. 

\to 

ii. 

When  Papal  Home,  with  outstretcli'd  hand. 
Would  treasure  grasp  in  every  land. 
'Twas  not  with  sword  and  bla/on'd  shield. 
To  conquer  or  die  ere  she  would  yield: 
lUit  with  mysteries  sought  to  bind 
And  'slave  the  superstitious  mind. 
Then  saint  and  miracle  were  wrought 
To  awe  and  sway  untutored  thought; 
They  were  of  earth,  not  of  Heaven. 
Klse  the  chain  would  not  be  riven. 

Alas!     Poor  Home,  who  envies  thee? 
Thy  purple  throne  and  Holy  See; 
Feeble,  and  with  dissentions  torn. 
Thy  luster  dimm'd  and  power  shorn: 
Dost  think  thon  ever  of  the  day 
When  in  thy  might  and  ruling'sway. 
On  Albion's  king  and  Albion's  home 
Ye  huiTd  the  dreaded  curse-of-  Home? 
For.  from  that  hour  of  fate  to  thee. 
Thy  glory  waned  o'er  land  and  sea; 
Yet  relics  of  the  grandeur  past 
Will  ever  live  find  ever  last 
While  time  rolls  on:  while  mountains  stand 
Inscribed  with  name  done  by  thy  hand! 
.Many  are  found  in  every  clime. 
Call'd  after  patron-saint  of  thine;! 
And  why  so  nam'd?    This  tale  qf/yore 
Will  tell  of  one    'tis  legend  lore.1    ' 


When  Cortes  landed  on  Spanish-main  ^ 

Jn  search  of  conquest,  gold  and  gain:  ^ 

Adjunctive  to  his  arm'd  command. 

There  with  him  came  a  priestly  band: 

Prelates  in  surplice,  monk  in  stole. 

Hooded  nuns,  and  friar  in  cowl.  ^ 

Were  gathered  on  the  sunny  strand 

Around  a  cross  rear'd  by  their  hand: 

A  goodly  band  with  purpose  bent. 


/»> 

'I'd  'slave  the  mind  where'er  they  went: 
Not  with  the  sword  and  spear  and  shield, 
To  fight  and  die  on  tented  tield. 
But.  with  the  olive  branch  would  gain 
Rome's  share  of  India's  rich  domain. 

When  Cortes  view'd  his  followers  o'er 
In  brittle-line  form'd  on  the  shore. 
And  as  the  vanguard  march'd  him  by, 
His  heaving  chest  and  blazing  eye 
Denoted  pleasure  and  delight; 
Warrior  ne'er  looked  on  fairer  sight: 
In  stately  grace  on  palfreys  sate. 
Dignitaries  of  Church  and  State; 
Hob'd  in  velvet  of  varied  hue. 
Purple,  scarlet,  orange  and  blue. 
Cloak  and  doublet,  on  every  fold 
Were  braided  o'er  and  fringed  with  gold: 
On  prancing  steeds  marched  four  abreast. 
With  spur  on  heel  and  anus  in  rest. 
Two  hundred  knights;  and  each  in  vein 

/|v  J'low'd  gentle  blood,  the  best  in  Spain; 

A  Well  skill'd  in  arm«,  and  valor  tried 

Oft  in  battle  when  ebbinir-tide 
Of  strife  had  paus'd  would  they,  with  cry 
"For  Spain!  for  Spain!  yield  ye.  or  die!"* 

,Jx  Turn  back  the  wave,  and  with  the  sway 

Of  sword  and  spear,  thus  gain  the  day, 

/»  Of  Milan  mail  they  armor  wore. 

And  on  their  lance  their  color  bore: 
In  sheath  of  steel  inlaid  with  gold. 

M  A  Bilboa  blade,  each  one  did  hold. 

Device  and  motto  on  every  shield. 

/jv  Was  quartered  on  a  burnish'd  field; 

H\  Cresfed  banners  on  high  did  wave. 

,jx  Clarion  and  bugle  music  gave; 

Heralds  proclaimed  with  trumpets'  tone 
"This  land  is  lief  to  Spanish  throne 

/l\  By  conquest  right;  by  ripht  of  cause— 

Sanction  'd  by  church  and  by  our  laws; 
•Twill  be  maintain'd  in  mortal  light, 
With  all  who  durst  dispute  our  right." 

No  enemy  seen,  no  light  begun. 
Vet  Mexico  was  lost  and  won. 
-- 


Five  hundred  leagues  north  of  the  main. 
Where  Cortes  landed  with  his  train. 


The  mountains  stand  with  haughty  crest. 

And  lying  between  in  sleepy  rest 

Are  hill  and  dale  in  wavy  line. 

Partly  covered  with  oak  and  pine. 

With  darksome  cave  and  rocky  dells. 

'Xeath  lofty  peaks  and  sentinels 

To  guard  this  fair  and  beauteous  vale. 

From  the  furious  mountain  gale. 

Upon  this  hilly  plain  so  fair. 

Tower'd  a  mound  of  rocks  in  air: 

One  day  there  march'd  into  the  glen, 

A  motley  troop  of  armed  men; 

Detailed  from  Cortes'  main  command. 

To  explore  and  search  the  land. 

Until  they  found  as  legend  told. 

"A  mountain,  huge,  of  solid  gold. 

Like  a  fortress  in  shape  and  face. 

When  it  you  find,  look  at  its  base. 

A  cave  you'll  see.    Within  that  hold 

Will  be  found  the  solid  gold." 
And  gold  theyr  found  in  ample  store, 
But  not  the  solid  form  it  wore; 
Twras  in  the  rock  where  sweat  and  toil 
Must  delve  it  from  its  mother  soil. 


Adjunctive  to  the  troops,  there  came. 
Of  Carmelite  friars  of  goodly  fame 
A  noble  band;  endow'd  with  nerve 
To  danger  brave;  their  cause  to  serve: 
Not  they  to  look  for  mounds  of  gold. 
Hut  in  church's  name  to  seize  and  hold 
(And  by  its  law  make  good  their  claim) 
The  richest  land  in  this  domain. 

The  troops  examined  the  rocky  mound, 
Hut  "solid  gold."  'twas  nowhere  found; 
They,  disappointed— naught  had  gain' d— 
Ketrac'd  their  steps;  the  priests  remain 'd; 
When  the  troops  turn'd  into  the  west 
Did  stout  hearts  throb  'neath  saintly  vest. 
And  as  they  march'd  from  out  the  glen, 
The  priestly  cheek  was  blanched  then: 
(iood  cause  had  they  to  pale  with  fear. 
For  deadly  foes  were  lurking  near. 


Time's  twenty  years  of  ebbing  wavi 
Was  buried  iii  Vast's  mistv  grave: 


SANTA    RTTA    VAL 


LOOKING   SOUTH 


Since  priestly  I>;iml  and  warriors  bold. 
With  clasped  hands  liad  i-;ood-bv  told 
With  throbing  heart  and  pallid  face. 
In  rocky  dell  at  mountain's  base. 

This  vale  in  nature's  grandeur  wild. 
Then  slumbered  as  a  sleeping  child; 
And  now  with  life  'twas  teeming  o'er, 
Seekinir  from  earth  its  golden  store; 
Deep  shafts  were  sunk  and  hills  were  bor'd 
To  where  the  shining  rock  was  stor'd; 
Where  the  antelope  was  wont  to  speed 
Like  the  fiery  and  untam'd  steed 
Courses  o'er  the  plain,  there  now  was  seen. 
When  vale  was  cloth '(I  with  verdure  green. 
Flocks  and  herds  feeding  on  its  hills. 
And  drinking  at  its  running  rills. 
The  priests  had  thriv'd:  by  hardy  toil 
They  wealth  had  wrung  from  stubborn  soil: 
To  savage  wild,  they  taught  their  creed. 
Then  turn'd  his  service  to  their  need; 
Easy  to  teach  his  darksome  mind, 
Supernaturally  inclin'd; 
And  mold  and  form  its  plastic  thought 
And  thrall  its  will;  when  it  was  wrought 
Then  o'er  its  sight  a  glamour  throw 
Of  mysteries,  and  pomp  and  show. 


VII 

/( 

rpon  the  vale  nature  had  phic'd 
A  mountain— like  a  fortress  fac'd: 
And  on  its  brow  there  then  did  stand 
Uprear'd  by  the  Carmelite's  hand 
A  monastery;  no.  not  like  those 
Described  by  Scott  in  verse  and  prose, 
"With  castle  wall  and  carvings  rare 
And  shrines  deck'd  o'er  with  jewels  fair.' 

Vet  it  had  its  wall,  cell  and  dome 
And  altar  shrine,  a  gift  from  Rome 
<r.  For  priestly  use  when  mass  was  said 

For  the  living  and  for  the  dead. 

There  dwelt  within  the  cloister  wall 
A  dozen  nuns;  each  and  all 
The  brown  garb  of  their  order  wore; 
With  them  the  Carmelite  cross  they  bore; 
They  came  from  Spain  the  year  before. 
The  abbess  was  strict  and  severe 
For  breach  of  ride:  why  so  austere? 


t 

'»X  Nf/ 

I 

Perchance  'twas  age.  lor  ye;irs  three  soon-. 

Upon  her  brow  she  grimly  wore; 

Or,  perhaps,  'twas  her  girlhood's  dream, 

Always  present,  and  ever  seen 

Lying  upon  Past's  misty  shore, 

Washed  by  the  storm  o'er  and  o'er.- 

Ariel  every  wave  rolling  to  land 

Huried  it  deeper  in  the  sand. 

Whatever  the  reason  or  the  cause. 

Kigid  was  she  in  convent  laws. 


The  cloister  world  moved  calmly  on. 
And  not  a  ripple  disturbed  its  throng: 
Until  one  day,  in  hall  and  cell. 
One  to  the  other  nun  would  tell. 
In  whisper-tone  and  bated  breath. 
Something  of  "Rita"  and  of  "death." 
The  bell  had  tolled  the  matin  hour; 
The  abbess  sat,  'throned  in  power. 
On  a  dais  in  vaulted  room, 
'Mid  a  light  of  shadowy  gloom. 
She  held  within  her  bony  hand 
A  crosier— 'twas  her  scepter'd  wand 
And  by  her  side,  in  silence  grim. 
Stood  Sister  Pablo,  tall  and  slim. 
The  executress  when  offense. 
Twas  scourges  pain,  as  the  penance. 

Arraign'd  there  stood  with  quiet  mien 
As  fair  a  maid  as  e'er  was  seen;  .••. 

Hair  black  as  raven's  plume  she  wore 
In  short,  thick  curls,  clustering  o'er 
A  head  of  classic  mould;  her  face 
An  artist's  pencil  ne'er  could  trace 
More  beauty;  with  form  lithe  and  tall. 
Graceful  and  dignified  withal. 

IX. 

The  abbess  from  her  throne  of  state 
Unto  Rita  'twas  thus  she  spake: 

"Nun.  profess'd.  of  Valencia,  Spain, 
Hefore  tliis  bar  I  thee  arraign; 
And  charge  thee  by  our  convent  laws 
And  by  our  church's  holy  cause. 
With  broken  vows  and  perjur'd  soul; 

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'!!  >*' 

Knelt  abbess,  nun.  priest  and  1'ri;ir. 
With  blanched  cheek  as  of  the  dead, 
With  furies  raging  o'er  their  liead. 
Heaven  seemed  on  destruction  bent. 
And  to  her  wrath  gave  furious  vent. 
Earth  labored  in  a  fiery  throe. 
And.  like  the  sea.  rocked  to  and  fro. 
/!v  A  shriek  arose  upon  the  air. 

Twas  like  the  wail  of  death's  despair; 
A  monk,,  with  face  of  ashy  hue. 
Silently  from  the  throng  withdrew 
And  strode  through  hall  'mid  rocking  floor 
With  rapid  strides  to  Ilita's  door- 
' 


He  Knock'd.  listened  and  then  did  cry. 

"Come  forth!    Come  forth!     Fly,  Hit'a.  Ih? 

Tis  death  lo  stay,  this  house  accnrs'd!"  " 
L  With  giant  strength  the  door  lie  burst. 

And  clasp'd  her  form. in  semblance  dead. 

And  through  the  cloister  halls  he  tied. 
M\  Outside  the  wall,  upon  a  stone 

He  sat  her  down;  she  in  a  moan 
/A  Of  anguish  cried.  "()  (iod  forgive! 

/Jv  O  let  me  die.  I  would  not  live!" 

A\    •  The  storm  had  paus'd;  now.  with  new  life 

A\  Au<l  double  force,  renew'd  the  strife; 

M\  And  like  a  ship  in  breakers  keeld, 

MX  The  mountain  groau'd.  heav'd  and  reel'd; 

iix  The  vault  of  heaven  rift  and  clash 'd 

In  thunder  tones:  the  lightning  flashed 

A  stream  of  living  lire:  the  priest 
rt\  I  old  o'er  his  beads;  the  storm  increas'd 

m  Its  fury;  through  air.  rolling  on. 

A\  Came  globes  of  tire;  they  struck  the  dome. 

/l\  "Come.  Kita.  haste!     Let  us  away 

Q\  Death's  around  us -we  must  not  stay!" 

There  came  a  voice  as  though  from  heaven: 

fl\  "REST  IN   PKACK.  THOU  ART  FOKOIVKX." 

Around  her  form  his  arms  did  clasp, 
/»\  'T/wx  nfnnc  lie  lield  irttliin  lii*  f/ro.s/y.' 

«\  Tie  gave  one  long  and  piercing  yell. 

/j\  The  cloister  rock'd  and  swayed',  then  fell. 

Engulf *d  in  earth's  capacious  womb. 


. 

/i\  1  lie  inmates  gained  a  living  tomb. 

/l\  The  monk  in  haste  strode  o'er  the  hill. 

/{s  The  storm  had  ceas'd  and  all  was  still. 


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